Drawing
of Bailey Hill Methodist Church 1898 [MB2274a]
Saturday
16th June 1917: Pioneer Manning, of Frederic Street, Luton,
was recently present at the funeral of his twenty year old son Pioneer Harry
Manning of the Royal Engineers which took place behind the lines in France. The
chaplain who carried out the service has written a letter of sympathy to the
young man’s mother, in which he explains that her son was brought in suffering
from gas poisoning and could not be saved, although everything possible was
done for him. Harry Manning enlisted in the Bedfordshire Regiment in August
1915 and went to France in April last year. He was wounded twice during the
Battle of the Somme. In January he transferred to the Royal Engineers and
served with them in various parts of the Western Front. Just a week before his
death he was transferred to the same company as his father, who was able to see
him after he was gassed but before he died. Before the war he worked for a
hairdresser in High Town Road, Luton and was a member of the Bailey Hill Church
Choir. He was expecting leave when he was killed. His father is now at home on
leave, but will return to France tomorrow.
Source:
Luton News, 14th June 1917
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